Hua Xia Sect in the morning was the most lively.
Those bad habits of sleeping in late in reality seemed uncommon in the game.
Just like Fang Yuan and Qin Hao, they were already standing on the martial arts arena early in the morning, striking dance poses and singing, "Get up in the morning, embrace the sun, full of positive energy..."
Seeing players coming and going, the two even enthusiastically greeted them.
On the lawn nearby, a dozen players were wielding flying swords, practicing their sword techniques.
At the entrance of the Library Pavilion, Luo Xi, dressed in white, sat under the shade of a tree, holding a thick book in her hands. As a gentle breeze blew, her white robes fluttered, already becoming a unique beautiful sight of the Hua Xia Sect.
The most bustling place was undoubtedly the Sect Square.
"Team up to kill a Qi Condensation Stage three demonic beast! We're still missing one tank. Those who want to join, hurry up!"
"The Hua Xia Sect's first team is about to depart. Bosses who need help, come over! Full efficiency, guaranteed satisfaction."
"Are there any teams forming to kill a Horned Lizard? I'm at Qi Condensation Stage three and proficient in blade techniques. Any teams?"
"Announcing a mission: gather one Dark Soul Grass. Reward is twenty low-grade spirit stones. Those who want to accept, sign up here."
...
When Zhou Qianqian followed Huo Sichun to the square, she was already shocked by the scene before her.
A sect of over sixty people gave her a vibrant and energetic feeling.
And Zhao Shijie, as the sect's top master, actually acted like a pimp, wandering among the disciples, vigorously promoting his services.
In Zhou Qianqian's perception, such geniuses were often arrogant, aloof, and cold, and would never lower themselves to curry favor with ordinary disciples.
But at this moment, Zhao Shijie showed no hint of a master's demeanor; he was all smiles and lacked any seriousness.
The ordinary disciples were even more unrestrained, acting as they pleased in front of Zhao Shijie, and some even argued red-faced over outrageous prices.
If this were in other sects, ordinary disciples who dared to offend a genius disciple in such a way would face only one outcome: death or injury, and the sect would not blame them.
"Senior Sister Huo, what are they doing?" Zhou Qianqian asked curiously.
Huo Sichun was wearing a black tight-fitting combat suit today, with two short blades on her back. Hearing Zhou Qianqian's question, she answered without hesitation, "Teaming up to kill monsters and level up."
"What is killing monsters and leveling up?" Zhou Qianqian asked, full of confusion.
"It's about fighting demonic beasts to improve one's combat experience and comprehend cultivation techniques on the brink of life and death."
Hearing Huo Sichun's explanation, Zhou Qianqian's brows slightly furrowed.
This kind of cultivation method had an extremely high mortality rate; only some cultivation fanatics dared to do it, and they were often accompanied by sect elders.
But besides the Sect Master named Xian Ge, where were the elders in Hua Xia Sect?
Even more absurd was that this group of disciples seemed to highly advocate this cultivation method, treating it as casually and easily as if they were doing daily quests.
Zhou Qianqian was filled with curiosity and decided to follow the main group to investigate.
At this moment, Zhao Shijie and a few others were sitting idly on the grass. An hour had passed, and no one was willing to hire their team, making them quite frustrated.
In contrast, Chen Shaocong's second team already had four players signed up.
It wasn't that other players looked down on the first team; it was just that Zhao Shijie and his group's target was a Qi Condensation Stage nine Flower-Patterned Lightning Leopard, and the price they offered was a thousand contribution points. It would be strange if anyone joined.
However, Zhao Shijie and the others didn't have much hope for this and planned to go to the secret forest with an empty team.
Unexpectedly, just as they stood up, they saw Zhou Qianqian run up to them and say, "I'll go with you."
Zhao Shijie refused without thinking, "No, Xian Ge doesn't allow you to leave the sect. Besides, you're penniless, how could you afford the reward?"
"Wait for me, I'll go find Senior Sister Huo."
Zhou Qianqian also knew her current situation and quickly ran to Huo Sichun, briefly explaining the situation.
Huo Sichun was originally the main damage dealer for the second echelon and was about to set off with her team. Upon hearing Zhou Qianqian's request, she couldn't help but be puzzled.
"Sister Qianqian, I really can't help you with this. Not to mention Xian Ge, I also don't have a thousand contribution points."
Zhou Qianqian didn't understand why these people valued sect contribution points so much; she just assumed it was the Hua Xia Sect's management style.
Just as she was at a loss, a man suddenly staggered into the sect, falling onto the steps of the mountain gate.
All the nearby players were startled and rushed to the man's side.
The man was covered in blood, clutching a broken blade in his hand, muttering something under his breath.
"Isn't that Zhang Ping from the Qingcheng Gang?" Someone recognized the man and exclaimed in surprise.
Zhao Shijie quickly helped Zhang Ping up, took out a Lesser Revitalizing Pill from his pocket, and fed it to him.
A moment later, Zhang Ping with difficulty lifted his eyelids. Upon seeing Zhao Shijie, he suddenly became agitated, tightly grabbing Zhao Shijie's collar and pleading, "Save my junior brothers and sisters, please save them."
"What happened?" Zhao Shijie asked with a frown, and the other players also showed curiosity.
Zhang Ping steadied himself and began to recount what had happened.
"Yesterday, after we left the Qingcheng Gang, we planned to seek refuge at Qingyun Temple. While passing through a village, we encountered people from the Yinmen Sect slaughtering a large number of villagers."
"At the time, we didn't think too much, only wanting to save the villagers. But when we started fighting, we discovered there were two Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators hidden among them."
"We fought desperately to try and take those villagers away, but the opponents were too strong. Many of us died, and we couldn't break through."
"Fortunately, those few Star Sect disciples happened to pass by, and with our numerical advantage, we finally escaped the village."
"But we never expected that among those villagers, there was actually a clone of an old Yin Hag."
Zhang Ping's face showed anxiety as he spoke, and he couldn't help but spit out another mouthful of clotted blood, saying painfully, "Hurry and save them, it'll be too late if you wait."
Everyone looked at each other, silently drawing their weapons.
Zhou Qianqian was the first to rush out of the mountain gate, wanting to save the Star Sect disciples.
Behind her were an excited Fang Yuan and Qin Hao.
These two had always been fearless, going wherever there was excitement.
However, just as they were about to move, a figure suddenly appeared, blocking their path.
"Xian Ge." Everyone greeted him politely.
Chu Huaian nodded slightly, took out the flying ship from his storage ring, and said lightly, "For this trip, besides the first team and the second team, everyone else stays in the sect."
Hearing this, the remaining players immediately looked dejected, "No! I want to go too..."
"Why? Why can't we go?"
"Exactly! We're going to save people, we're going to snatch treasures..."
"Protest! Serious protest!"
"Alright, alright, weaklings shouldn't join the fun. Just stay in the sect and do quests obediently." Fang Yuan stood beside Chu Huaian, displaying an irritating expression.
Chu Huaian glanced at Fang Yuan, casually grabbed him by the back of his collar, and threw him onto the flying ship, then said, "For this mission, everything is under Zhao Shijie's command. Go and return early."
The other players, seeing Chu Huaian say this, could only hang their heads and leave.
Zhou Qianqian at this moment understood these disciples even less. She really wanted to say, the other side has two Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators and a clone of an old Yin Hag! People will die!
Why were they all acting as if they were pumped up? It was understandable for Zhao Shijie's group of late-Qi Condensation Stage disciples, but what was the meaning of those early-Qi Condensation Stage and Body Tempering Stage disciples clamoring to go?
She couldn't figure it out, she really couldn't figure it out. The Hua Xia Sect, from top to bottom, exuded strangeness everywhere.
Zhao Shijie and the others all jumped onto the flying ship under the envious gazes of the other players.
Before leaving, Chu Huaian called Zhao Shijie aside and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Keep an eye on Zhou Qianqian. If she tries to escape, kill her. Do it discreetly."
Zhao Shijie imperceptibly glanced at Zhou Qianqian on the deck and nodded slightly.
